Mayor Chun Jae-soo Seeks to Broaden Cooperation with UNESCO Director-General
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Mayor Chun Jae-soo Seeks to Broaden Cooperation with UNESCO Director-General
□ On July 20, 2026, at 09:00, Mayor Chun Jae-soo met with UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany at the BEXCO Exhibition Center to identify ways to foster closer ties in world heritage and related areas and introduce Busan's efforts to secure World Heritage status.
○ The meeting was convened on the occasion of the 48th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan.
○ UNESCO, a specialized agency of the United Nations, is committed to world peace and co-prosperity by engaging across the fields of education, science, and culture, and oversees the recognition and conservation of World Heritage sites.
□ Mayor Chun conveyed his gratitude to Director-General El-Enany for his visit and outlined several collaborative initiatives between the two sides.
○ In connection with the World Heritage Committee Session, he proposed making the Busan Global Heritage Forum a regular venue for addressing key challenges, such as war, disasters, climate change, and cultural asset management.
○ He also suggested jointly exploring the formation of a UNESCO Category 2 Centre (C2C) as a coordination platform for protecting world heritage through digital tools and advancing capabilities in developing countries.
○ In addition, he reaffirmed his dedication to sharing the value of the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage with the international community and laying the groundwork for its inclusion on the World Heritage List by 2030.
□ Director-General El-Enany underscored his expectation that the World Heritage Committee Session would be an opportunity to cultivate relations with Busan.
○ He expressed his confidence that Busan could play a pivotal role in transferring its cutting-edge expertise in digitalization and ocean technologies, along with its experience in heritage preservation, to global audiences.
○ He also voiced his sincere hope that the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage, currently on UNESCO's Tentative List, would be formally designated by 2030.
□ The discussion is anticipated to elevate Busan's standing on the world stage and boost exchanges.
□ Nayef Al-Fayez, Assistant Director-General for Culture, was in attendance as well. As a gesture of hospitality and respect, Busan presented both officials with name seals engraved in Korean, showcasing the beauty of the Korean script.
□ In response, Director-General El-Enany said, "Thank you for the warm welcome. I am profoundly impressed by Busan, which has transformed from a temporary capital during the Korean War into the vibrant maritime metropolis it is today."
□ Mayor Chun replied, "With the World Heritage Committee Session as a catalyst, we will become a trusted partner of UNESCO. We look forward to UNESCO's tireless interest and encouragement as we pursue the inscription of the Busan Wartime Capital Heritage and take steps to position Busan as a leader in cultural stewardship."
